Anaemic starlings have fewer chicks (sometimes)
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چکیده
In the murky waters of the Amazon River, electric eels (Electrophorus electricus) bombard their prey with quick-fire bursts of electricity. Just like a TASER, a rapid volley of electrical impulses causes repeated muscle contractions and immobilizes prey. Eels can then swallow their unlucky victims whole. Although this electrical weaponry is around two and a half times more powerful than the discharge from a UK electrical socket, this might not be enough to successfully stun many prey available in the Amazon. Kenneth Catania suspected that a unique behaviour might help eels intensify their attack to expand their menu.
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